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Key considerations for canning food safely
Canning is an effective way to preserve foods, but it requires care to prevent foodborne illness, particularly botulism.
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Master Gardener state conference offers tours of Baker Creek seed packing facility
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Attendees can tour Baker Creek seed packing facility during the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener State Conference, set for June 4-7 in Springfield.
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Camden County youth workforce pilot program earns national recognition
In just its first year at Camdenton High School, the REACH program has connected hundreds of students with local employers, helped young people better understand career options in their own communities and strengthened ties between schools and the workforce.
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Insights from MU's survey of custom rates for farm services
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The cost of hiring fieldwork in Missouri has risen an average of 9% since 2023, according to an update to University of Missouri Extension’s Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri. Missouri Custom Rates Survey Comparison Section vs. 2023
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Missouri is already paying for its childcare problem
When we think infrastructure, we picture roads and bridges. But childcare is infrastructure too. In Missouri, gaps in care are sidelining workers, hurting businesses and costing the state more than $1 billion a year.
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London-born chef, author to give keynote at Mo. Master Gardener conference
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – London-born chef-turned-gardener Mitch McCulloch will be the keynote speaker at the 2026 University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener State Conference, June 4-7 in Springfield.
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MU Extension offers calf backgrounding program in Mount Vernon
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will host a Calf Backgrounding Program in Mount Vernon on May 19, with a follow-up session on June 30. This hands-on program is designed to help cattle producers determine when backgrounding calves can add value—and how to do it profitably, says Ian McGregor, livestock field specialist with the University of Missouri Extension.
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Preventing summer learning loss through everyday activities
Research dating back to the late 1990s shows that children can lose ground in reading and math over the summer months. But with a little creativity, everyday activities can become meaningful learning moments all summer long.
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Happy Beef Month from your MU Extension dairy specialist
Happy Beef Month. Yes, that message is coming from your University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. Across Missouri, where cattle operations of all kinds form the backbone of rural communities, the lines between beef and dairy are not separate conversations. They are part of the same cattle industry and, increasingly, the same supply chain.
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Flowering plants are a meaningful Mother’s Day choice
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Giving outdoor flowering plants for Mother’s Day provides a lasting alternative to cut flowers, allowing the gift to bloom for seasons rather than days, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Living gifts such as perennials, shrubs or roses represent a growing relationship, often reflecting the effort and care a mother puts into her family.
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New toolkit helps community gardens take root
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Community gardens are thriving across Missouri by pairing shared land with shared purpose, but long-term success requires more than good intentions.
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Preweaning calf management that leads to postweaning success
STOCKTON, Mo. – “For cattle producers who retain their calves after weaning, calf performance is crucial for a successful operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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Turning data into disaster readiness
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Geospatial analysis by University of Missouri Extension researchers can help planners and emergency managers better understand how social vulnerability shapes disaster impacts and recovery. By mapping both exposure to disaster impacts and community-reported needs, the research can aid in prioritizing investments in preparedness, mitigation and recovery, says Michael Sunde, an MU Extension natural resources specialist.
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Missouri 4-H youths take the lead at State Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On April 28, more than 500 Missouri 4-H members, staff and volunteers gathered in Jefferson City for 4-H Day at the Capitol, focused on civic engagement, leadership and advocacy.
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Does ‘tabletop silage’ have potential?
Rusty and William Lee are experimenting with ways to use scrapped milo stalks to keep beef producers from turning to low-quality, high-priced hay as a last resort to feed herds during Missouri droughts.
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Strong, steady March bull sale in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, described the 107th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale in Springfield as “a strong, steady sale.”
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When fields stay wet
NOVELTY, Mo. – Heavy rainfall is becoming more frequent across Missouri, leaving producers dealing with saturated soils, ponded fields and flooding even before the 2026 growing season began. Understanding how excess water affects crops—and what steps can help in the short and long term—can protect yield potential and improve field resilience, says University of Missouri Extension state soil science specialist Gurbir Singh.
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Building resilient, profitable farms
CEDAR HILL, Mo. – In the hills outside St. Louis, creeks swell fast after hard rains, and fields can pay the price. At Big River Grain and Cattle, Daniel Bonacker recalls, repeated flooding was carrying away topsoil. In 1983, Bonacker’s grandfather switched to no‑till farming, which minimizes disturbance of the soil. This reduces erosion by improving the soil’s ability to absorb and hold water.
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Severe-weather resources from MU Extension
Access free resources, guides, and videos to stay safe and prepared during severe weather and flooding emergencies.
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Drones can help diagnose ailing crops
MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo. – Rusty Lee, a University of Missouri Extension agricultural systems technology specialist, used artificial intelligence and drone technology last season to diagnose irregular corn stands.
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Edible flowers: Beauty you can eat
For centuries, people around the world have used flowers for cooking, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Missouri healthcare: Why access isn’t as simple as it sounds
People across Missouri recognize that healthcare needs to improve. And the first step is understanding what is putting pressure on the system.
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Some body parts face more damage than others from pesticides
Not all body parts are equally vulnerable to pesticide exposure. University of Missouri Extension specialist Rusty Lee stresses the importance of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when applying pesticides. The pesticide label is the law and provides the most accurate PPE guidance for each product.
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Show-Me-Select sale offers 170 commercial fall-calving bred heifers
Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, suggests that anyone interested in adding to their cattle herd should consider the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program. The southwestern Missouri Sale 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Joplin Regional Stockyards, 10131 Cimarron Road, Carthage.
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Changing Missouri weather fuels tick populations
Missouri’s changing weather patterns are creating more favorable conditions for ticks, increasing concerns for the agricultural community and anyone who spends time in fields, forests or backyards.